44 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
from correspondence with other nurserymen in the West, we 
find that they make about the same report. Yet we think the 
tendencies are upward, and are looking forward to a healthy 
demand for nursery stock for the fall of 1897.” 
Normal, III., April 17. — Augustine & Co.: “ We have 
filled more orders this spring than in any other packing season 
for a number of years, but it is noticeable that a greater per 
cent, of the orders come direct from planters than heretofore. 
There seems to be comparatively little dealer trade in this sec¬ 
tion of the country. The spring has been exceptionally fine 
for handling stock. The outlook for this summer’s work is 
controlled almost entirely by the price of grain.” 
Osage, Ia., April 23.—Gardner & Son : “Sales will foot 
up with us about the same as last spring but we have a better 
class of orders and there is more cash in them than in spring 
of ’96. We have found it hard work to keep our men in the 
field and only by close organization in gangs with a competent 
foreman with each gang have we been able to keep them out. 
Times seem to be improving and with a fair sort of a summer 
we expect to push fall sales ahead of any previous year.” 
Spaulding, III., April 20. — Spaulding Nursery and Orchard 
Co.: “Have to report that our shipments of carload lots was 
fair ; (nine cars, loaded mostly with apple, cherry, pear and 
plum.) Sales or shipments of less than car lots were quite a 
little heavier than for many seasons past. We look for an 
improvement in fall trade.” 
IN THE SOUTH. 
Macclenny, Fla., April 17. — Griffing Brothers Co.: “The 
past season’s business has closed with us very satisfactorily, 
we having sold out very clean, especially in the line of Japan 
plums of which we shipped a large consignment to Philadelphia 
in February. Our Texas trade has also been very satisfactory, 
and the planting in Florida and Georgia has been quite large. 
“ As compared with last season’s business we have disposed 
of fully double as many trees and at equally as good prices. 
We consider the prospects for next fall’s business very 
encouraging.” 
Baltimore, Md., April 21. — Franklin Davis Nursery Co.: 
“ We have had our usual retail trade this spring and been very 
busy, but orders are dropping off rapidly now. Our wholesale 
department is a little behind last season and prevailing prices 
quite low. On the average we expect to make our usual 
showing. 
“ From present indications we do not see much encourage¬ 
ment for better prices in the near future as there seem to be 
too many trees on the market for the demand. Our plantings 
this spring are about as in previous years, and up to this time 
stock is starting off nicely. The weather has veen very favor¬ 
able for spring work.” 
Glen St. Mary, Fla., April 19. — G. L. Taber, president 
Glen St. Mary Nursery Co.: “ In this latitude ‘spring sales ’ 
are hard to distinguish from ‘ winter sales,’ as also are ‘winter 
sales ’ from ‘ fall sales.’ In other words our shipping season is 
continuous here from October to April. 
“ The past season, taken as a whole, has proved all that we 
expected, and our sales have been larger than during the previ¬ 
ous year. The amount of stock shipped has been very much 
larger than any previous season, but the prices have been 
lower, and hence our cash increase has not corresponded to 
our increased sales. We sometimes wonder whether the 
‘ bottom ’ has yet been reached in prices of nursey stock. We 
hope so.” 
IN THE EAST. 
Cayuga, N. Y., April 17.—Wiley & Co.: “We haYe no 
fault to find with the volume of spring business unless it be 
that the more we do (at present prices) the worse we are off. 
“ One bright feature, as to the outlook for the future is, that 
a large number of the more heavy growers will largely reduce 
their plantings this spring, and many of the smaller growers 
are not going to plant anything. This followed up for a few 
years will have a tendency to bring us back to normal 
conditions.” 
Morristown, N. J., April 17.—C. F. McNair: “Business 
at this point is smaller in volume than one year ago. Orders 
are smaller and there is much complaint of scarcity of money 
among planters. Growers and wholesale firms are offering 
prices decidedly lower than in spring of 1896, and every indi¬ 
cation exists that the bottom is not reached.” 
Dansville, N. Y., April 20.—James M. Kennedy : “Spring 
opened up unusually early. Nurserymen commenced digging 
on March 13th and continued without any drawback, which is 
something unusual. The wholesale trade this spring will be 
about 25 per cent, less than last spring while the retail trade 
will be 10 per cent, greater. The demand for nursery stock 
has been good, but the prices were not what we expected. In 
fact they were lower than last fall. I judge about all the sur¬ 
plus stock will be used up when the season is over, with the 
exception of some varieties of standard pears. 
“ I am safe in saying no nursery stock in this locality has 
been injured by the winter and last year’s budding is looking 
fine. The prospects for next fall and spring, as far as can be 
judged, are that prices will advance on all nursery stock, as 
I think and hope the times will be better under William 
McKinley. 
“ About the same amount of stock will be planted here this 
spring as a year ago.” 
Milford, Del., April 22.—A. Pullen: “Regarding the 
business here for past fall and this spring, would say have had 
the greatest output of stock in our experience, and at the pre¬ 
vailing figures of seasons past. Altogether very satisfactory. 
Whilst having a fair demand for pear, cherry, and a general 
line of stock, the calls for peach and plum (which are grown 
here as specialties) far surpassed that of any previous season. 
In peach we handled something over 500,000, and in plum 
about 45,000. 
“ Would say that we consider the outlook good, though trade 
will be regulated to a great extent by what may result as 
revenue from the fruit crop of this season. At this date have 
yet a good showing for fruits of all kinds on the Peninsula.” 
Welland, Ont., April 19.—Morris, Stone & Wellington : 
“ Our shipments in bulk will be about the same, or more than 
last year, but not as much in dollars. 
“ The season here has been very favorable for the handling 
of stock, and for early shipment.” 
JUST what is needed. 
E. Ford Jewett, Canon City, Colo. —“ I can’t afl'ord to be without 
your valuable publication. I enclose one dollar for subscription. I only 
wish it came oftener. It is just what is needed for nurserymen and 
for them only. Success to you.” 
